17 November 2020 Eight Blocker Fellows Conduct Cultural Research on Germany

With support from the Julius G. Blocker ’53 Endowed Fund, HWS students pursue cultural research in Germany each semester and, upon their return to campus, present their insights and experiences to the HWS community at the annual Blocker Showcase.

Last spring and summer, study abroad programs were cut short or canceled due to COVID-19, including programs in Berlin, Freiburg and Leipzig, where eight Blocker Fellows were enrolled and four other students were scheduled to participate in intensive language training. Nevertheless, these students were able to explore their interests in German language and culture, creating richly detailed presentations for a virtual Blocker Showcase.  

The presentations include research from:

Ashton Ariola ’22

Program: Leipzig online intensive language program

Project: Leipzig, Germany – a Model for U.S. Sustainability?

 

Needhi Bajaj ’23

Program: Leipzig online intensive language program

Project: German Culture through a Computer Screen

 

Hannah Bendull ’21

Program: IES Freiburg; Program: Leipzig online intensive language program

Project: Art and Architecture in Freiburg

 

Olivia Broomes ’23

Program: Leipzig online intensive language program

Project: Politische Themen in Sport/ Political Topics in Sport

 

Kevin Cervantes ’21

Program: IES Berlin

Project: I Saw Myself at Museumsinsel

 

Jack Fell ’21

Program: IES Freiburg

Project: Understanding German Culture through Football (Soccer)

 

Victoria Karpowicz ’23

Program: Leipzig online intensive language program

Project: Leipzig Street Art

 

Morgan Nelis ’21

Program: IES Berlin

Project: Ein kurzer Aufenthalt in Berlin/ A Brief Stay in Berlin

 

Alexis Racioppa ’21

Program: IES Berlin

Project: Nachhaltigkeit in der Stadt/Sustainability in the City

 

Mariah Reinke ’21

Program: IES Berlin

Project: Some Days in the Life of Berlin

 

Robert Tasker ’21

Program: IES Freiburg

Project: Mein (einsames) Studentenwohnheim / My (lonely) Dorm

 

Brandy Vargas ’20

Program: IES Berlin

Project: Berlin: A Multifaceted Experience

Learn more about the Blocker Fellowship.

Julius G. Blocker ’53 was a visionary whose generous support of the work of the Center for Global Education will benefit generations of HWS students.

During his undergraduate years at the Colleges, where he majored in modern languages, Blocker developed an interest in Germany that would evolve into a lifelong passion. That interest grew while he earned a master’s in international affairs at Columbia University and during his time as a Fulbright scholar at the Freie Universität (Free University) in West Berlin.

After returning to the U.S., Blocker embarked on a long, successful career operating his family’s business. Upon his retirement, he made provisions to establish an endowed fund in honor of his late mother, Maria Blocker, through which he could share his passion for Germany with students. The Julius G. Blocker ’53 Endowed Fund provides generous support to students pursuing study abroad opportunities through one of the Colleges’ programs in Germany, enabling “Blocker Fellows” to experience German culture and society in much the same way Blocker himself did.